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I hope you all saw
Scott's tip yesterday, the first of a series on meta-documents. Though now that I use
Scrivener, I no longer use meta-documents. Or, rather, I do but they're all incorporated into the one Scrivener document so it doesn't feel like lots of different documents.
But I digress: on to today's tip which has nothing to do with meta-documents and also kind of contradicts my previous tip about using
square brackets. It emerges from a conversation I had with the marvellous
Sarah Rees Brennan. It turns out that she does not skip the boring or tricky bits but instead bribes herself into writing them. Her reward is to write the fun scene on the other side of the tricky bit. So if she doesn't write the scene she's been avoiding then she's not allowed to write the scene she really wants to write.
There are many reasons for doing this but the most frequently cited one is that if you skip all the hard bits---as I advised you to do in the square bracket post---you may never finish the book. As
Zeborah puts it:
It means I write all the easy parts of the book first, meaning I have to write all the hard parts later in a single chunk, meaning I probably won’t finish the book. Whereas if I force myself to write entirely in order, I can use a future easy-and-fun scene as a reward for getting through a hard scene.
Another reason not to skip tricky scenes is that sometimes you don't know whether a scene is going to be hard until you've written it. I can't tell you how many times a scene I was dreading has turned out to be easy and vice versa. A slightly spoilery Liar example after the cut:
Posted by Justine at 13:42, November 10th, 2009 under Writing process |
From various sources, I see that a few people are a little freaked when the tips Scott and me have been sharing don't work for you. Please to relax. No writing tip works for everyone. And even if it does work for you now, it might not always. For instance, I no longer use
square brackets though once I found them extremely useful. My last novel had no
zero draft. Some novels I write without paying attention to
daily word counts, some novels I do. I've not used a
time line for most of my books. I've never
dialogue spined an entire novel.
I recently learned that in certain fandoms OTP stands for One True Pairing. ...
Posted by Justine at 21:57, November 9th, 2009 under Viewing, Writing process |
By now I'm sure you're all racing along in the land of NaNoWriMo: tap tap tappety tap tap. Your little fingers tripping across your keyboard. What a blessed sound that is!
But, wait, you've stopped? Why?
Is it because the bit you have to write next is a tad too complicated (how does a nuclear reactor work?) and/or requires research (when a car explodes do the windows go flying out? how far? what does it sound like exactly?) or is too squishy (you got to the love scene, didn't you?) or you're not in the mood (writing journeys is boring).
Rather than come to a grinding halt why not square bracket it?
By which I mean do this:
Janice Lardano got out of ...
Posted by Justine at 16:46, November 8th, 2009 under Writing process |
One of the most frequent complaints I'm hearing from those down the NaNoWriMo word mines is that they keep getting stuck.
As it happens I have already written a post on
how to get unstuck. It is rather lengthy, however, so here's a quick and dirty version of what you should do when you get stuck:
Dance. That's right, get up from the computer, turn whatever music you like up loud, and shake it! Dance! Dance! Dance! Do it till you're sweating. Then dance some more.
Run around the block. For some of us dancing is just not our thing. But we can run. Or shoots some hoops. Or some other physical activity away from the computer.
Read newspapers. This ...
Posted by Justine at 16:27, November 6th, 2009 under Writing process |
Today (yesterday) I had my last school events of the Liar tour at Joliet West High School and Glenbard South High School in the outer suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. The students at both schools were amazing and asked many smart, engaged, funny questions. It was a total pleasure to meet you all. Thank you.
In other news
Cristina Hernadez posted her midterm project for her painting class on her blog and I was so impressed I asked if I could share it with you here. Remember, Cristina? She's the one who photoshopped a very
disturbing version of Maureen Johnson's Suite Scarlett.
Here's her midterm painting:
Wow, huh? Cristina also had to write an essay about the painting and I ...
Posted by Justine at 3:10, November 5th, 2009 under Book tour, Ideas, Liar, Love is Hell, Praising, Writing process |
I know that NaNoWriMo is set up with a specific word count in mind. And word counts are, indeed, a useful way to keep track of you progress. However, do not get obsessed with them. The world will not end if you don't meet your daily word count. Nor will it end if you don't have 50,000 words at the end of November.
I'm seeing too many people stressing out about word counts and beating up on themselves when they fall short of them. Cut yourself some slack!
Here's why:
NaNoWriMo is meant to be a fun, companionable way to try your hand at novel writing. That means that over the month you're going to start to learn what kind of writer you ...
Posted by Justine at 1:49, November 4th, 2009 under Writing process |
This is the most important tip of all: It's only a first draft, it doesn't have to be perfect.
You know what that means? You can relax. A first draft can be bad. In fact, it will be bad. Don't worry about it. Plow on. Don't even think of it as a first draft. That's too much pressure, not to mention insulting to first drafts, think of it as your zero draft.
That's what I do.
I get a lot of people asking for tips for dealing with writer's block. I don't get writer's block. But only because I've learned not to be bothered by writing utter, utter rubbish. ((Also I don't get paid if I don't write.)) I expect my zero draft ...
Posted by Justine at 12:24, November 2nd, 2009 under Writing process |
Tomorrow is the first day of
National Novel Writing Month. Although I've never taken part in it and probably never will, ((November is almost always a travelling month for me.)) I think it's an awesome way for beginning writers to learn the art of the first draft. I know many pro writers who also use the month to help them slay their deadlines. Nothing like knowing you have comrades-in-arms in your writing struggles.
Scott and me decided that we'll spend the month offering tips. Scott's tips will be over on
his blog and will appear on the odd numbered days of November, mine will be here on the even days. Though as I'm still deep in Liar promotion, I ...
Posted by Justine at 15:14, October 31st, 2009 under Liar, Writing process |
When I first got the idea for Liar I thought it would be a comedy. I thought it would be a goofy, screwball comedy with a protag who was lying about herself out of boredom and insecurity and that as the layers of her lies were peeled away chapter by chapter---"Actually, I'm fourteen, not seventeen, but that's only three years diff. Not that big of a lie, right?"---through a series of misunderstandings and misadventures she would learn to like herself and lose the need to lie so much. It would be heartwarming, they'd all hug it out, and everyone would learn and grow. You know only funny. Really funny.
The finished Liar turned out somewhat differently. Less with the funny.
This happens ...
Posted by Justine at 12:01, October 30th, 2009 under Ideas, Liar, Writing process |
Today I blogged
over here. Those of you who've been wondering about the process of writing Liar might find it interesting.
Today I prepare for my appearance in
Larchmont tonight and the many appearances I'm doing next week in
Seattle and Portland. Then I'll be at the
Teen Lit Festival in Austin next Saturday. That's quite a temperature range. Packing's going to be fun!
For those of you who only read the posts and not the comments, you really need to check out the comments on the
White Writer Advantages thread and the
Hating Female Characters one. People are being astonishingly smart.
Posted by Justine at 13:23, October 16th, 2009 under Bloggery/Internetty Stuff, Liar, New York City/USA, Praising, Writing process |
This is a little bit weird. I had no idea it existed and stumbled upon it while, yes, I confess, googling myself. ((What? I wanted to check out some more Liar reviews. That's not a crime, is it?)) So here is my husband talking with the Romantic Times about my latest book and what it's like writing in the same room:
Here's my response:
Firstly, those who've heard me talk about writing may remember that I, too, use that high diving metaphor. Yup, stole that one from Scott. Hey, he steals heaps of my stories and metaphors too. We're an equal opportunity story-stealing household.
It's also true that we ...
Posted by Justine at 10:17, October 11th, 2009 under Liar, Scott's books, Writing process |
Disclaimer: I am writing about YA publishing in the USA. Although I'm Australian I know much more about the publishing industry in the US than I do about Australia. Or anywhere else for that matter.
I know that the title of this post is going to lead to some comments insisting that it's not true that white writers have any advantages and that many white people are just as oppressed as people of colour. I don't want to have that conversation. So I'm going to oppress the white people who make those comments by deleting them. I don't do it with any malice. I do it because I want to have a conversation about white privilege in publishing. We can have ...
Posted by Justine at 13:13, October 1st, 2009 under Publishing business, Ranting, State of the World, Whingeing, Writing life, Writing process |
Lately, I have heard several published white writers express their trepidation about the idea of writing non-white characters. Some of them have mentioned that they feel they'll get in trouble if they continue to write only white characters, but that they also feel they'll get into trouble if they write characters who aren't white cause they'll bugger it up.
Damned if you do, they say, damned if you don't.
To which I can only say, and I mean this nicely, "Please!"
What exactly are you risking? Who exactly is damning you? Which of your previously published novels have attracted no criticisms and no damnation? Cause that's amazing. You wrote a book no one critcised? Awesome. Please teach me that trick!
Every single book I've ...
Posted by Justine at 16:46, September 26th, 2009 under New York City/USA, Ranting, State of the World, Whingeing, Writing life, Writing process |
Currently I am at the
Melbourne Writers Festival and thus I am fielding many questions about writing and publishing. I noticed again that many of the questions unpublished writers ask are coming at it from the wrong end of the stick. Ally Carter calls this
asking the wrong questions.
For instance, after yesterday's event an adult came up to me and explained that they are an aspiring writer working on their first novel. They said they wanted my advice but the questions they asked really confused me:
What's the best way to get started writing fan fiction?
How do you build up a following?
Should I be using wordpress, livejournal or blogger?
It took me awhile to realise what was going on. ...
Posted by Justine at 3:48, August 25th, 2009 under Publishing business, Writing life, Writing process |
Because I'm in transit, ((These two guest posts are timed to post while I'm travelling. If your comments get stuck in moderation you'll have to be patient. Sorry.)) I asked
Ari if she would step in for me, and she kindly said yes. Thanks, Ari!
I'm back! So yesterday I gave you a list of books about poc that I think you should read, although I'm sure I left off some great books by accident. If you want some more lists check out Susan's at
Color Online for specifically sci-fi check this out the
Happy Nappy Bookseller's list and for bi-racial, multi-racial poc
go here.
Also I want to share some information with you ...
Posted by Justine at 7:47, July 28th, 2009 under Guest post, Reading, State of the World, Writing process, Young Adult literature |
I've been asked a few times why none of my protags are white given that I am white. (So far that question has only come from white people.) I thought I'd answer the question at length so next time I get that particular email I can direct them here.
I don't remember deciding that Reason, the protagonist of the Magic or Madness trilogy, would have
a white Australian mother and an Indigenous Australian father. I don't remember deciding that Tom would be white Australian or Jay-Tee Hispanic USian. But I made a conscious decision that none of the characters in How To Ditch Your Fairy would be white and that Liar would have a mixed race cast. Why?
Because a young ...
Posted by Justine at 0:14, July 22nd, 2009 under State of the World, Writing life, Writing process |
Posted by Justine at 12:48, July 10th, 2009 under Whingeing, Writing process |
I have been promising for some time that I would write about how most love songs are actually about stalking. However that time is not now on account of I am behind with everything. So far behind that I can't continue any feuds with other YA writers or---much much worse---follow the Tour de France. Yes, it's that bad. Again.
In the meantime tell me what your favourite/most appalling stalker song is in the comments below. I will send a signed (by me and Scott) copy of the anthology
Love is Hell to the commenter whose stalker song selections most amuses me. Or at random if the busy-ness makes my brain not function enough to decide. You can find the first ...
Posted by Justine at 13:32, July 4th, 2009 under Listening, Love is Hell, Writing process |
The
discussion in the fanfic post got me thinking about the differences between writing to make a living, as I do, and writing solely for fun.
Many people in that thread talked about how writing fanfic was a learning experience that prepared them for becoming a professional writer. And there's no doubt that that's how fanfic has worked for many pros. However, the vast majority of writers of fanfic not only don't become pros, they have no desire to do so. They write fanfic for a variety of reasons: fun, community, because writing is something they can't not do and so on---they don't do it as some kind of apprenticeship for becoming a "real" writer.
I know professional writers who ...
Posted by Justine at 0:00, June 23rd, 2009 under Publishing business, Writing goals & milestones, Writing life, Writing process |
Posted by Justine at 0:00, June 21st, 2009 under Fans & readers, Writing process |
Pain is extraordinarily hard to write about. Chronic pain is hardest of all. How do you write about a character whose every day, every moment, is shaped around constant pain? And not wear out the reader's sympathy.
It can be done. It has been done.
And when it is done convincingly; those are often difficult books to read.
Half the time we don't want to know about the pain of people we know in real life. Part of us wants them to suffer in silence. We're embarrassed by others' suffering, bored by it, made to feel helpless in the face of our inability to do anything about it, afraid it might be contagious, upset by it, angered, and a gazillion other complicated ...
Posted by Justine at 11:25, June 16th, 2009 under Reading, State of the World, Words & Language, Writing process |
Posted by Justine at 14:45, June 14th, 2009 under How To Ditch Your Fairy, Ideas, Liar, Vainglory, Writing life, Writing process |
By
TheChrisKnight: a musical take on
segregated proms in the south:
Posted by Justine at 9:22, May 30th, 2009 under New York City/USA, State of the World, Writing process |
Posted by Justine at 10:45, May 17th, 2009 under Ranting, Words & Language, Writing process |
Posted by Justine at 8:37, May 14th, 2009 under 1930s NYC novel, Liar, Research, Writing process |
There's a very fine line between promoting your books and writing tickets on yourself. It's a moving line. What one person finds overly self promotery other people think is fine.
For instance, I was once told I had crossed the line because my Livejournal icons were of the front covers of my books. I thought that was nuts. I like the covers of my books. Why can't I make icons out of them? Too pushy, I was told. It's like you're only on Livejournal to get people to buy your books. Someone else told me I shouldn't mention my books on my blog because it sounds like I just want people to buy them and that's the only reason I ...
Posted by Justine at 13:39, April 24th, 2009 under Publishing business, Writing life, Writing process |
I've been writing stories since I first learned how to write a sentence. But I did not become a full-time writer until 1 April 2003. ((Wow, this is my sixth anniversary. How bizarre.)) In those many many years before I became a full-time writer I wrote in between doing other things. In between going to primary school, high school, university, and my various jobs. I'd always have at least two documents open when I was at uni. One was the essay I was supposed to be writing and the other was the story or novel I was writing on the sly. When the going got tough with one I'd switch to the other. Writing was something that I snatched time ...
Posted by Justine at 0:12, April 1st, 2009 under Freelance Anniversary, Publishing business, Writing goals & milestones, Writing life, Writing process |
Several people have asked me about my research for the 1930s novel. Specifically, they're interested in writing a novel set in ye olden days and they want to know if there are any particularly useful tools/techniques I'd recommend. Something that applies to more than just the 1930s.
Why, yes, there is one single research tool I would recommend: the
Oxford English Dictionary. It's the best value for money of all my online subscriptions. I could not write without the OED. I'm not even sure I could live without it. I hug its bits and bytes to my chest.
I probably spend just a tad too much time looking up words to see if they were in use in the 1930s and ...
Posted by Justine at 0:00, March 24th, 2009 under 1930s NYC novel, Research, Writing process |
Posted by Justine at 0:26, March 22nd, 2009 under New York City/USA, Writing life, Writing process |
Posted by Justine at 1:47, March 17th, 2009 under How To Ditch Your Fairy, Liar, Magic or Madness trilogy, Publishing business, Ranting, Writing process |
Posted by Justine at 15:39, March 14th, 2009 under Cons & Other Gatherings, New York City/USA, Writing process |
Because a good writing day is better than all the mangosteens in the world. Because a good writing day wipes the memory of all those bad writing days entirely. Because I love it.
Posted by Justine at 1:23, March 7th, 2009 under Mangosteens, Writing life, Writing process |
Posted by Justine at 0:14, February 17th, 2009 under Writing goals & milestones, Writing life, Writing process |
Posted by Justine at 16:56, February 16th, 2009 under 1930s NYC novel, Whingeing, Writing life, Writing process |
Posted by Justine at 0:05, February 13th, 2009 under New York City/USA, Publishing business, Sydney/Australia, Writing life, Writing process |
Posted by Justine at 0:21, February 12th, 2009 under Writing process |
Posted by Justine at 0:16, February 11th, 2009 under New York City/USA, Reading, Writing life, Writing process |
Posted by Justine at 23:00, January 31st, 2009 under Guest post, Writing process |
Kim says:
How do you organize all the jumbles of idea generating, plot generating, character generating, and so on, in order to see what you have, so you can then take it and put it all together somehow? In my example, I have a 100 page document focused on one story (one novel) only. It has snippets of scenes, plot ideas, potential background for characters, what ifs and opposing what ifs, outlines and ideas for character’s backgrounds, and so on and so forth. Again, it’s specifically focused on one novel and one story idea, but it also includes multiple options for that novel and story idea etc. I’m finding that I can’t move forward with structuring this story without knowing what ...
Posted by Justine at 6:41, January 31st, 2009 under Liar, Writing process |
Posted by Justine at 16:21, January 30th, 2009 under How To Ditch Your Fairy, Magic or Madness trilogy, Writing process |
Posted by Justine at 22:07, January 29th, 2009 under Writing process |
Posted by Justine at 0:00, January 29th, 2009 under Research, Writing process |
Epiphany Renee says:
What is a good job to have to fund my writing career?
Do you know of any job that will pay me a living wage to read books?
What is a good major in College, especially for an aspiring writer? (I know you are opposed to Creative Writing as a major, but what do you think is a good one?)
As it happens a while back I asked people to share their suggestions on
good jobs for writers.
The only jobs I can think of that involve a great deal of book reading are librarian, editor, agent (and other publishing jobs), journalist, as well as academic. The problem with all of these jobs is that the reading of books is ...
Posted by Justine at 0:06, January 28th, 2009 under Writing process |
Monica says:
I have a hard time reading other novels without getting drawn in and forgetting to analyze and learn from them. Any tips?
Mary Elizabeth S. says:
A while back, you mentioned something about writing out scenes from books you liked in order to try and figure out how they worked and why. It was only mentioned in passing, and you were going to expound on it but never got the chance. (Of course, now I can’t find that post to save me life, and am wondering if I haven’t gone a bit crazy…) I’d like to know more about that exercise.
Funny you should ask, Monica, because your question overlaps with Mary Elizabeth's. One of the best ways to avoid getting sucked ...
Posted by Justine at 0:46, January 27th, 2009 under Praising, Writing process |
Posted by Justine at 0:01, January 26th, 2009 under 1930s NYC novel, Writing process |
Melody says:
What do you do if you’re just drained? Not stuck, not blocked–you still know what’s going on, you have ideas, you can still write–but you’re completely energy devoid, whether it’s because you’ve been immensely productive or because the outside world has just been piling up obligations. Do you just power on through, or do you step back and take a bit of a break, let yourself recharge?
I'm probably the worst person in the world to answer this question. I am all about resting. I will rest at every opportunity. I think everyone should rest. I am horrified by how hard many of my writer friends work. I think it's immoral and plain wrong to work seven days a week. ...
Posted by Justine at 1:06, January 25th, 2009 under Writing process |
Posted by Justine at 0:10, January 24th, 2009 under 1930s NYC novel, Writing process |
Posted by Justine at 0:32, January 23rd, 2009 under Writing process |
Rachel says:
So, I just read the storyless character post, and I have a similar problem: the storyless scene. I tend to come up with a scene, kind of like your Charlie scene but generally the idea, not the character, is dominant. How do I give that basic idea and scene a plot, characters, and events?
I've been thinking about this one a lot and I'm failing to come up with any new suggestions. There's stuff on finding a plot
here and I think the one on
characters applies as well, and you've already read the
storyless character post.
I suspect that your problem is that you're still in the mulling stage and not yet in the writing stage. I'm ...
Posted by Justine at 1:03, January 22nd, 2009 under 1930s NYC novel, Writing process |
Posted by Justine at 17:05, January 19th, 2009 under Magic or Madness trilogy, Publishing business, Writing process |
